“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

-  Lucille Ball

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and felt content with everything that you saw? Whether it’s our weight, our hair, our bad eyesight, our lack of coordination, our temper, our work ethic, or some other aspect of our physical, mental or emotional self, it feels like many of us go through life focusing more on criticism than kindness.

Learning to accept every inch of who you are - body, mind and soul - is one of the hardest things to achieve, but is so worth it in the end. We’re passionate about making you love every part of you, so this International Women’s Day, it’s time to celebrate your flaws. Here are 5 ways to start:

Know that only you notice your “flaws”

When we’re young, many of us care deeply about what other people think of us. Then we get a little older and stop caring about what people think of us. Then we become older still and realise that no one was ever thinking about us in the first place.

Even when it feels like the whole world is staring you down and focusing on that one insecurity you’re holding on to, the reality is that it’s probably only you who notices, while everyone else is thinking about their own shortcomings. Realising this can finally set you free from negative self-commentary, and encourage you to see yourself as flaw-less.  

Watch your language

Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the “flaw” you have identified, home in on the positives. For example when you are feeling negative about your “big nose”, instead of thinking horrible thoughts about its size, focus on telling yourself that your nose is yours, and you wouldn’t let anyone else talk badly of it!

It adds character to your face, makes you who you are, and helps you to smell the beautiful, natural essential oils found in your favourite Scentered products. Use affirmations to tell your nose it’s beautiful as well as functional, and you may start to see it further down the line.

Adopt an attitude of gratitude

New research is beginning to show how a regular gratitude practice can help improve our mental health and boost our happiness levels, and it takes almost no time at all. Incorporating into your day just a few minutes of feeling grateful, writing down what is making you happy, what you feel lucky to have, and the people and things around you that bring joy to your life, can greatly increase your happiness and is a wonderful way to celebrate yourself and those around you.

Grab a notebook and start a daily gratitude journal. You don’t have to write pages and pages, just choosing three small things that you are grateful for each day will start to make a difference in time.

Love others to feel love

Being kind, considerate and generous with others can help improve your own self-esteem and self-worth, as it teaches you to turn up the volume on the positives and ignore the negatives. When was the last time you did a good deed for someone? Or told someone what they mean to you?

Helping a neighbour with a chore or errand, giving to charity, and gifting a friend with something you know will make them feel great, are all ways to spread the message of love and amplify your own self-love as a result.

Take care of your body

For many of us, our insecurities begin on the outside and over time we develop only negative thoughts about our bodies. This can lead to us not taking proper care of them day-to-day. Do you buy only the best products for your skin? Do you exercise regularly? Do you get enough sleep at night? Do you eat a balanced diet?

It’s unlikely that every one of us tick all the boxes, so thinking about how you can improve your self-care is a great way to show your body some love. Take a warm bath, put on a feel-good song, get more sleep, meditate, decorate your home in a way that makes you happy, invest in products that can improve your life; ultimately, take care of yourself. You will live your whole life inside this body, and it deserves the very best.